In November 2019 Formula 1 made the ambitious pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030, a feat which involves all parties having a net zero carbon footprint. However, a recent analysis by the Minderoo Foundation uncovered the top 20 firms producing 55% of all global plastic waste; of these 20, 8 firms had sponsored F1 at one point, 4 of which still do.
Exxon Mobil (Mobil 1) were the leading innovators of synthetic motor oils; Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabian company specialising in petroleum and natural gas; INEOS, global manufacturers of petrochemicals and oil products; and Total, French multinational integrated oil and gas company, each sponsor either teams, or are official partners of Formula 1.
Formula 1 itself wrote on its website, when announcing their plan to be carbon neutral by 2030, "Delivering the plan will involve F1 working with the FIA and all of its partners, promoters, sponsors and the teams."
Nevertheless, Formula 1 is still willing to receive funding by some of the biggest plastic polluters on the globe. ExxonMobil being the worst polluter, amounting to a total of 5.9% of all single use plastic waste.
Although F1 is not directly sponsored by ExxonMobil - McLaren were for over 20 years, and Red Bull have been, and continue to be, since 2017.
Despite Saudi Aramco having been revealed as the 5th largest polluter with 4.3%, the Saudi Arabian oil company only began sponsoring Formula 1 at the beginning of last year, in the role of long-term global partner, an exclusive group of just 6 official partners; DHL, Emirates, Heineken, Pirelli and Rolex.
Although Saudi Aramco aim to utilise their sponsorship of Formula 1 to create more sustainable fuels and enhanced internal combustion engines (ICE), Formula 1 cannot simply turn a blind eye to the other unsustainable, pollutant activities their sponsors are involved in. However, as Lewis Hamilton said in Australia 2020, "Cash is king."
INEOS is another sponsor who has only recently joined Formula 1, after becoming a one third shareholder in Mercedes just last year. Even if Mercedes and INEOS' partnership has led to numerous successes on track, INEOS' track record outside F1 has led to an individual contribution of 2% of all global single-use plastics, a record which Mercedes and F1 need to address in order to meet their target of being carbon neutral by 2030.
Lastly, Total, who are official partners of Aston Martin, ranked 15th on the overall list of the 20 firms, their contribution of just under 2% (1.9%) is still hefty, and undesirable for any goal aiming for carbon neutrality.
Will Formula 1 ever reach their goal of being carbon neutral by 2030, or will they have to surrender their pledge for the temptation of money?
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